Keydom

About this board game

Keydom is a medieval board game for 2–5 players, with an approximate playing time of 90 minutes. Players represent families of medieval professionals, including Stonemasons and Fishermen, while competing for influence across several areas of the board.

Using a set of numbered tokens and carefully employed misdirection, players try to achieve control in different parts of the game. Their intentions may involve seeking resources, but opponents cannot always be certain what those intentions are.

Resources can then support several different ambitions. Players may use their hard-fought gains to purchase special actions, acquire magical spells, or obtain a piece of the royal Keylore. These possibilities give the contest more than one focus as families work toward the ultimate prize.

• Compete for control in several areas of the board.
• Use numbered tokens and misdirection to pursue your plans.
• Seek resources and spend them on special actions, magical spells, or royal Keylore.
• Acquire all three pieces of regalia and take them to the throne room.

The first player to collect all three pieces of regalia and bring them to the throne room is crowned King and wins the game. This final objective provides a clear destination for the competition, while the route toward it can involve control, resources, and purchased advantages.

Independently produced by British designer Richard Breese, Keydom was his second game in the key series. The original 300-copy edition sold out within hours of its initial offering at Essen in 1998. The game was later re-tooled and re-released as Aladdin’s Dragons in 2000.